Mediacom seeks mediation in dispute that could affect ability to watch Alabama game in southwest Alabama

PENSACOLA, Ala. -- Mediacom
has asked Sinclair Broadcasting to agree to mediation in the companies'
dispute that threatens to take ABC affiliate WEAR-TV Channel 3 off the cable lineups
for more about 100,000 viewers, potentially affecting viewership of the Capital One Bowl Jan. 1 and the BCS National
Championship Game between Texas against Alabama.

The Capital One Bowl features Penn State
vs. LSU, on Jan. 1 and the BCS title game is Jan. 7.

The Mediacom/Sinclair dispute involves cable customers in Santa Rosa County and Pensacola Beach
in Florida and in southwest Alabama.

Citing the interests of Alabama fans, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, and U.S. Rep Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, today wrote a letter to the head of the Federal Communications Commission asking for intervention in the dispute.

"We are not asking for you to take sides in this matter," the letter to Julius Genachowski states. "Rather, we request that the Federal Communications Commission take appropriate action to ensure that major sporting events such as the BCS National Championship are not held hostage during failed retransmission consent negotiations."

"The interests of the public must come first," the letter continues. "To that end, we believe it is imperative that the Federal Communications Commission use its authority to prevent immediate interruption in broadcast service during this round of negotiations between Mediacom and Sinclair."

Sinclair, which owns WEAR, is threatening to pull its
programming from Mediacom stations over demands for increased payment
for the right to rebroadcast Sinclair signals. A similar dispute took WEAR off of Mediacom for about a month in 2007.

Tom Larsen, vice president for legal and public affairs for Mediacom, told the Pensacola News Journal that he hopes to strike a deal before the parties' current agreement
ends on Dec. 31, but Sinclair has yet to agree to mediation.

WEAR General Mangager Terry Cole wrote in a statement
published on the TV station's Web site:
"Our station will continue to be available to you for free over-the-air
and from both DirecTV and Dish Network. If you are a Mediacom
subscriber, we hope you will take advantage of these alternative
sources for our programming."

Mediacom is the dominant cable provider in Baldwin County, and also
serves some areas in Mobile County. Comcast, the dominant cable
provider in Mobile County, is not involved in the current dispute.

ADDITIONAL READING At a Mediacom Web site, www.unfairsinclair.com,
Sinclair is described as a "bully," using "scare tactics" to demand
more money from Mediacom for the right to carry its programming. Meanwhile, curious visitors to www.weartv.com can read a message from the station's general manager, Terry Cole, discussing Mediacom's "attacks" and "threats."

On a Mediacom Web site, Sinclair is described as a "bully," using "scare tactics" to demand
more money from Mediacom for the right to carry its programming.

Barry Faber, vice president and chief counsel for
Sinclair, has told the Press-Register that the two parties were communicating, but that he was
"extremely pessimistic" that an agreement would be quick in coming.

Faber downplayed some of the heated rhetoric, saying the matter was
"just a business negotiation" between two parties that so far can't
agree on a price. Ultimately, he said, it is in the best interest of
both sides to strike a deal.